Vehicle-wheel.



S. WHITING.

VEHICLE WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED Dno.15, 1910.

1,001,329, Patented Aug. 22, 1911.

Z SHEETS-SHEET 1.

S. WHITING.

VEHICLE WHEEL. l

APPLIOATION FILED 11110.15, 1910.

1,001,329. Patented Aug. 22, 1911.

2 BHEETB-BHBET 2.

n Ef M SAMUEL WHITING, OF ATHOL, MASSACHUSETTS.

VEHICLE-WHEEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 15, 1910.

Patented Ang. 22, ,i511 it.

Serial No. 597,446.

To all ici/torn 'it may concern:

Be it known that l, Santini. VIII'riNo, a citizen of the United States, residing at nthol, in the county of Vorcester and State ol ltfiassacluisetts, have invented certain new and useful Tmprovements in Vehicle-Wheels, oli which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class ol vehicle wheels which are provided with cushioning means comprising an arranged ment oil.: radially disposed air cylinders and plungers working therein, said plungers serving to compress the air in the cylinders, and thus produce the cushioning etlect.

The wheel which is the subject oil the pres ent invention comprises two concentric hub sections between which the cushion is linterposed, together with a connection between said hub sections which is independent ot the cushion, thus relieving the latter ot the driving strain.

The invention also consists in a novel construction and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation ot the wheel, partly in section on the line 1-1 oit F 2; Fig. 2 is an edge View partly in vertical section on the line 2 2 ot Fig. 3; and Fig. 3 is a side elevation ot the wheel partly broken away to show the connection between 'the two hub sections.

In the drawings, 5 and G denote, respectively, inner and outer hub sections, said sections being concentric, and spaced apart a suitable distance to permit relative radial movement. The t'elly 7 is connected to the outer hub section by spokes S arranged in the ordinary manner, and the telly may be fitted with a solid rubber or other tire 9. A pneumatic tire is not necessary, it being the object of the invention to produce a wheel having sutlicient resiliency to enable such a tire to be dispensed with.

The inner hub section 5 is made tast to the axle 1,0 in such a manner that it will turn therewith, and to opposite sides o'l said section are rigidly secured, by means ot' trans verse bolts 11, circular plates 12 and 13, said plates having a greater diameter than that ot the inner hub section, so that they may project a sullicient distance therefrom to inclose the outer hub section 6, the latter titting loosely between said plates, so that it is lree to slide in the direction ot the inner hub section.

In the outer hub section are l'ormed chambers 'llt which are spaced unitormly apart and extend radially in a. circular series around the inner hub section 5, said cham` bers opening through that portion ot the outer hub section which is opposite the inner hub section. These chambers :torni air cylinders, in each one ot which operates aY plunger 15 which connected by a rod lt to the inner hub section. '.lhc connections oit the rod with the plunger and the inner hub section are made by nleans ot ballsandsocket joints, as shown in Figs. l and 2, to permit a free relative movement oit the two hub sections. The outer ends ot" the air cylinders are provided with inwardly rmening in-take valves 17, to admit air when the plungers move inwardly, said valves closingl when the plungers move in the opposite direction, during which moven'ient the air within the cyliinlers is compressed.

In order to remove all the drivii'xg strain from the cushioning devices herein described, there is provided an additional connection between the hub sections. This connection comprises links 1S which are pivotally connected at one ot their ends, by means ot pins 19, to the outer hub section, and at their other ends, by means of pins 20, to the plates 12 and 13. One set ot links connects the outer hub section to the plate 12, and another set is located at the opposite side ot the outer huh section and connects the same to the plate 13. The links ot one set extend diagonally in one direction, and the links of the other set extend diagonally in the opposite direction, so that the movement ot" the inner hub section will be transmitted to the outer hub section, irrespective ol the direction in which the axle and the inner hub section are turning.

The inner itaces ol the plates 12 and 153 recessed, as shown at 21. in Fig. 2, and the adjacent faces oit the outer huh section are correspoinlingly remssed, as indicated at 22` to receive the links 1S. The inner ends of these recesses are toi-med with pockets, the walls of which are inclined as indicated at 23 in Fig. 3, said walls exteinling at the same angle as the links 1S, and the latter having one oit their longitudinal edges lo cated in close proximity thereto. rangement serves to assist the transmission of the movement of the inner hub section to the outer hub section in case of lost motion from loose joints, in which event the links would come in Contact with the inclined surfaces 23.

In order to protect the link connection from dust and dirt, there is provided a cover comprising rings 24C which are secured to the outer faces of the plates 12 and 13, and have inward bends extending across the outer edges of said plates, and across the joint between the same and the outer hub section.

I claim:

l. A wheel comprising spaced concentric inner and outer hub sections, one of said sections having a series of radial cylinders, plungers working in the cylinders, connections between said plungers and the other hub section, a felly carried by the outer hub section, plates secured to opposite sides of the inner hub section, between which plates the outer hub section is slidably mounted, and diagonal links loosely connecting the aforesaid plates to the outer hub section, the links connecting one of said plates being inclined This ar- I in the opposite direction to the links connecting the other plate.

2. A wheel comprising spaced concentric inner and outer hub sections, one of said sections having a series of radial cylinders, plungers Working in the cylinders, connections between said plungers and the other hub section, a felly carried by the outer hub section, plates secured to opposite sides of the inner hub section, between which plates the outer hub section is slidably mounted, diagonal links connecting the aforesaid plates to the outer hub section, the contiguous faces of said plates and hub sections'being recessed, and the inner ends of the recesses being formed with pockets to receive the links, said pockets having an inclined wall, and the aforesaid links having one of their longitudinal edges extending in close proximity to said wall.

In testimony whereof l aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

SAMUEL WHITNG.

Witnesses:

WALLACE O. POWERS, CLARENCE E. HUNT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

